Pelargonium plant named ‘Clips Dared’

ABSTRACT

A  Pelargonium  cultivar particularly distinguished by its dark red flower color, dark green leaves, and vigorous growth habit is disclosed.

Genus and species: Pelargonium×hortorum L. H. Bailey.

Variety denomination: ‘Clips Dared’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum L. H. Bailey, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Clips Dared’. The newcultivar was propagated from a single seedling resulting from the openpollination of 8691-2, a red-flowered, unnamed, unpatented proprietaryPelargonium line and an unknown, proprietary, unpatented Pelargoniumline.

The new cultivar was created in 2000 in Gilroy, Calif. and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Gilroy, Calif.over a four year period. It has also been trialed at Gilroy, Calif.,Litchfield, Mich., and Andijk, The Netherlands. It has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new geranium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photograph is of a four-month-old plant grown in alexan-covered greenhouse with normal zonal pelargonium culture.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit while the inset photograph shows acloser view of the mature inflorescence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Clips Dared’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inGilroy, Calif. The plant history was taken on seven-month-old plantsgrown in one-gallon pots in a poly-covered greenhouse during thefall/winter season. The color readings were taken under natural light inthe greenhouse in the late winter season. Color references are primarilyto The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.) (2001). Texture description data were collected by viewingplant parts with a dissecting microscope.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Pelargonium×hortorum L. H. Bailey.        -   Common name.—Geranium.-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Upright, outwardly spreading and rounded growth habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Good vigorous habit, well            branched.        -   Height.—15 cm to 18 cm as measured from soil level to top of            plant, excluding blooms; 16 cm to 20 cm soil level to top of            umbels.        -   Width.—30 cm to 40 cm excluding umbels.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—8 to 10 weeks.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Has good weather tolerance; used            in hanging baskets, patio or mixed containers.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—12 to 28 days.        -   Root description.—White, slightly pubescent, fibrous yet            coarse.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Immature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower            surface: RHS 146B. Length: 3.4 cm to 4.0 cm. Width: 6.5 cm            to 8.0 cm.        -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface:            RHS 146B. Length: 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm to 8.5 cm.        -   Zonation color.—None.        -   Apex description.—Rounded.        -   Base description.—Cordate.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Margin.—Crenate; somewhat sinuate.        -   Texture.—Pilose, velvety.        -   Venation.—Palmate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 144A.        -   Petioles.—Length: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color:            RHS 146B. Texture: Pilose; villous.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—20 cm to 25 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.75 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144B.        -   Texture.—Pilose; villous; few glandular hairs.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Length.—1.2 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm to 0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Color when sepals first divide.—RHS 45A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—An umbel composed of 11 to 15 flowers.        -   Umbel diameter.—8.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Umbel depth (height).—6.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Blooming habit.—Continuous blooming throughout the growing            season; good floriferousness.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 8 cm to 11 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.            Texture: Pilose; villous; many glandular hairs. Color: RHS            144A.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 2.9 cm to 3.3 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm.            Texture: Many glandular hairs, some with an orange hue.            Color: RHS 144A, pigmented by anthocyanin giving it a color            of RHS 183A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower form.—Polypetalous; mostly imbricate petals and            petaloids, semi-double form consisting of 8 to 10 petals and            1 to 2 petaloids.        -   Flower diameter.—5.0 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Flower persistence.—An open flower will hold its petals            until the flower begins to dehisce, 7 to 10 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Petals/petaloids:    -   -   Petal size.—Length: 2.8 cm to 2.9 cm. Width: 2.7 cm to 2.9            cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Papillose.        -   Upper petal color.—Upper surface: Velvety RHS 45B; basal            veining RHS 45A. Lower surface: RHS 46C with streaks of RHS            46A basally.        -   Lower petal color.—Upper surface: Velvety RHS 45B; basal            veining RHS 45A. Lower surface: RHS 46C with streaks of RHS            46A basally.        -   Upper petaloid color.—Upper surface: Velvety RHS 45B; basal            veining RHS 45A.        -   Lower petaloid color.—Upper surface: Velvety RHS 45B; basal            veining RHS 45A.        -   Color change with age.—Colors do not change with age but may            change with temperature and time of year.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number of sepals.—5, one larger than the others; fused at            base.        -   Length of sepals.—1.0 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Width of sepals.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Texture.—Villous; many glandular hairs, some with an orange            hue.        -   Color.—RHS 143; some anthocyanin in irregular blotches.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—4 to 6, sometimes fused to petaloids.        -   Filament color.—RHS N155B but whiter with a blush of RHS            54C.        -   Filament length.—0.6 cm.        -   Pollen color.—RHS N30A.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pistil.—1.        -   Pistil length.—1.0 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 53C.        -   Style color.—RHS 53D.        -   Style length.—0.4 cm.        -   Fruit set.—Not observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Not observed.

Comparison with Known Cultivars

‘Clips Dared’ differs from the female parent 8691-2 by having darker redflowers, darker green leaves, and a more vigorous growth habit than8691-2.

‘Clips Dared’ differs from the comparison variety, ‘Rocky Mountain DarkRed’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,513) by having smaller but darker greenleaves without a zone.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant as shown and described herein. 